Spread Of Christianity
Above : Statue of Emperor Constantine
For many years after the full development of their Empire, the Romans remained Pagan. The Christian religion, however, had steadily advanced, despite the most fearful persecutions, until it permeated all the Roman dominions. With the conversion of the Emperor Constantine (a.d. 312) it had become the official religion of the Empire, and soon it completely supplanted the old Paganism. Accepted and practised throughout all the Roman territories, Christianity now spread from the Caspian to the Irish Sea.
At the time of St. Patrick’s mission, however, Christianity and the Roman Empire were alike threatened by serious dangers. These were caused by the incursions of the peoples whom the Romans called the *’ Barbarians.” They were mostly tribes of Teutonic race, who, as we have just seen, were steadily advancing southward. Fierce and savage Pagans, they now hovered on the borders of the Empire, and threatened to overwhelm both religion and civilisation. Already the Goths had sacked Rome, and the Vandals had penetrated into the Spanish peninsula and Africa. Other German tribes were ready to move across the Danube and the Rhine. Some of them were taken into the pay of the Empire to defend it against their neighbours, as, for instance, the Franks, who were planted on the Rhine and Meuse. So serious was the situation, that the Roman legions had to be withdrawn from Britain (a.d. 411) in order to protect the heart of the Empire.
It was when such perils menaced Christianity in Europe that St. Patrick carried its light into Ireland.
The Gaels of Eire had by this time reached a high standard of culture—but they were still pagan. Of their religion before the introduction of Christianity we know but little. It does not seem to have been a connected system, and, possibly, as was remarked, in dealing with the mythology, it may have been a mixture of different tribal beliefs. It is now generally called ” Druidism,” because the religious ceremonies were conducted by ” Druids.” The Druid COfAoi), however, was not so much a priest as a teacher and magician. It is clear that the Pagan Irish worshipped the natural elements such as light, fire, water, etc., and their religious festivals coincided with the changes of the seasons. They believed in a future world, which was known by various names, such as €ir> na n-Os, ItlAj tTleU, Hi t>neAfAit,* etc., and they paid much attention to the cemeteries of their dead. Idols of stone were sometimes worshipped, as, for instance, Crom Crunch, which, together with twelve smaller idols, stood on Magh Sleacht (in the present Co. Cavan). There are only two references in all our literature to human sacrifices, and if such a custom ever prevailed it must have been in the most primitive times. Druidism was also practised amongst the Celts of Europe, as we learn from Latin writers, but there were many points of difference between the Continental and Irish forms.
* From the Mersey to the Clyde. C
For over three hundred years the Romans had been established so close to Ireland as almost to approach the opposite shores of the Irish Sea. For much longer they had occupied those parts of Europe which faced the southern coasts. During all that time, Christianity was known amongst the Romans : for a century it had been the official religion of their empire. The two races were in close contact, both in commercial intercourse and hostile warfare. Roman coins have been found in many places in Ireland ; the raids of Irish Kings brought back many Christian captives from Britain and Gaul. It is only to be expected, therefore, that Christianity should be known to the Irish, and practised amongst them before the coming of St. Patrick. Some of the Irish saints, such as Ailbe of Emly, Declan of Ardmore, and others, are said to have been Christians when St. Patrick arrived, and to have submitted to him. But the number of Christians must have been small, and there was no organised Church.
Shortly before the arrival of St. Patrick on his mission, Palladius was consecrated bishop by Pope Celestine, who sent him to ” the Irish believing in Christ” (a.d. 430). He landed on the eastern coast, but his mission was not successful, and he soon retired, to die in Britain.